The Pierre Favre Program
A three-year program to train directors to give the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola
Download the Pierre Favre Program brochure .pdf
2010
Graduates & Instructors of the Pierre Favre Program
From left to right: Dr. Ruby Buffin, Nancy McGaraghan, Fr. Bernie Bush,
S.J. (instructor), Fr. Jerry Hudson, S.J., Ana Tsai, Fr. Kevin Ballard,
Cathy Collins, Leelamma Sebastian, Julie Paavola, Sr. Anne Hennessy, C.S.J.
(instructor)
Overview of the Training
The Pierre Favre Program trains people to be directors of the Exercises in all formats.
The first year includes careful analysis of the text of the Exercises (in English and in the original Spanish) and intensive study of writings about the Exercises produced over the course of almost 500 years.
The second year considers pastoral skills involved in direction of the Exercises, also focusing in depth on some key structural elements of the Exercises. The year includes interning on Retreat Center programs.
The third year is spent in direction of retreats (usually, two) in everyday life, with sessions providing mentoring and supervision for the directors twice each month.
Prerequisites
The qualifications for applying to enter the course are:
- training in theology (e.g., a master’s degree, completion of a diocesan ministry training program, or the equivalent)
- having made the full Exercises (individually directed, (either in 30 days or in the extended format of the 19th Annotation retreat in daily life)
- having been (for a year or more) and being in regular spiritual direction in the Ignatian tradition
- having discerned, with input from and support of the faith community, a call to this ministry
We are already enjoying the collaboration of the participants in the Favre Program on our weekend retreats, and they are bringing the gift of the Exercises back to their own local communities. Their generous service of the Church through this ministry extends the availability of the Exercises to ever more of God's people.
2009 Graduates of the Pierre Favre Program
From left to right: André Delbecq, Sr. Anne Hennessy, C.S.J. (instructor),
Susan Votaw, Fr. Emmanuel Foro, S.J., Fr. Bernie Bush, S.J. (instructor),
Anne Grycz, Michael Cheney, Barbara Nelson. Photo credit: Michael Collopy
We begin the new Pierre Favre season mid-September.
If you have experienced God calling you to the ministry of giving the Exercises and are interested in the Pierre Favre Program, you can get more information or can begin the application process by contacting Dr. Tom Powers by email or call 650-917-4049.
Blessed Pierre Favre was one of St. Ignatius’s first companions and according to Ignatius understood the Exercises the best and was the best director of them, apart from himself.